Soccer is played with two teams of equal number of players, usually from 5 to 11 players. The object for each team is to control a ball and place it into the opposing team's net. The team that scores the most of goals wins. Players may control the ball with any part of their body except hands and arms, with the exception of the goalkeeper, who may handle the ball with hands or arms within a certain penalty area in front of the net that he is guarding.

Contact between opposing players with the intent of causing harm to a player or disrupting his team's strategy is not allowed. A referee observes the game and stops play for any fouls, and will order a free kick of the ball from the spot where the foul is committed. A foul committed by a player in his own penalty area results in a penalty kick from a designated spot in front of the goalkeeper and the goal. Fouls may also be given for unsportsmanlike conduct. A referee may also "book" a player for a malicious foul by awarding a yellow card (a caution), or a red card for more serious offenses or two yellow cards A red card results in the player's expulsion from the game, in which case the ejected player cannot be replaced.

Free kicks may be awarded if a player or players is found to be offside (when offenders place themselves ahead of the ball as well as the last opposing field player. The offside rule is to prevent players from camping out in front of an opponent's net. A throw-in will occur when a ball has traveled past the sideline of the playing field. It is thrown back into play by the team whose opponent last touched the ball. Goal kicks to put a ball back into play by the goalie will occur when a ball has traveled beyond the end line of the field and the opposing team is the last to touch it and corner kicks, where a ball that has traveled beyond the end line is kicked back into play from the nearest corner flag by a field player whose opponent last touched it.

Good sportsmanship means having good conduct and attitude by sports participants, especially fair play, courtesy, striving spirit, and grace in losing. A good sport will not gloat when he wins, nor will he sulk when he loses. He will offer help to his opponent, even if doing so may cost him a win. He will understand that his opponent is more important than the contest.

BASIC POSITIONS: The number of players who play on the field varies greatly by age and league, and can range from 5 per team to a maximum of 11 per team.

GOALKEEPER There is always just one Goalkeeper per team. The Goalie's job is to defend his team's goal and he usually stays close to his goal. You can identify the Goalie because he wears a different colored shirt or a vest over his shirt. As long as he is in the "Penalty Box" he can use his hands to pick up the ball, but if he comes out of the Penalty Box he cannot use his hands. Except for Throw-ins and to pick up the ball in Re-start situations, the Goalie is the only player who can legally use his hands.

DEFENDERS Fullbacks play closest to their goal (which is the goal their Goalie defends). Along with the Goalie, they have the primary job of stopping the opponents from scoring. However, to a degree, every player should be a defender when the opponent has the ball. One way to teach this is by teaching the concepts of "First Defender" and "Second Defender".

MIDFIELDERS The Midfielders play between the Fullbacks and the Forwards. They are often in the middle third of the field. There can be offensive midfielders who play closer to the Forwards and defensive midfielders who play closer to the fullbacks.

FORWARDS Forwards play closer to the opponent's goal, which is the goal guarded by the opposing Goalie. The forwards are the primary scorers, although midfielders sometimes score and at older ages, fullbacks even occasionally score.

6. Know the meaning of and the Referee signals for the following:[edit]

A player is in an offside position if that player is nearer to the opponent's goal line than the ball, unless the player is in her own half of the field of play, or there are at least two opponents as near to their own goal line as the opposing player. A player shall be declared offside and penalized for being in an offside position.

There are two definitions: The metal or wooden structure which is at the center of each end line & for adult play is 8 yards wide & 8 feet high; also, a "goal" is scored when the ball totally crosses the end line inside the goal.

There are 2 colors of "cards" which the referee will hold up to indicate serious fouls or behavior which won't be tolerated. He carries these cards in his shirt pocket, so if he reaches for his pocket it's a bad sign for the player who committed the foul. These cards are about the size of a playing card and one's yellow and the other is red. When a card is to be given then the referee will stop the game, call the player over, hold up the card and write the player's name in his notebook. This is called "booking" the player and when it happens the player has been "booked", (e.g., "she was booked").

(aka Clear the Ball). The first priority of defenders is to "clear the ball" (i.e., kick the ball) out of the "Danger Zone" (i.e., out of scoring range). If the ball is in front of your goal and in scoring range, the Defenders should "clear it" because a turnover would give the opponent a scoring opportunity.

(aka Carrying) A player can dribble with any part of the foot. "Control dribbling" is usually with the inside or outside of the foot. "Speed dribbling" is often with the top of the foot (i.e., the "laces").

A training technique to teach touch & ball control, where any part of the body except the arms is used to strike the ball upward & the player sees how many times he can "juggle" it before it hits the ground.

Over sidelines. A ball that goes out of bounds on either side of the field is put back into play immediately by the opposite team, at the point it went out of bounds. It must be put back into play by a two-hand, overhead throw, with both of the player’s feet remaining on the ground.

When a defender slides on the ground and attempts to kick the ball away from the ballhandler. If the tackle is careless, reckless or uses excessive force or the tackler first contacts the ballhandler instead of the ball, a foul should be called.

The method of putting the ball back into play after it has gone out-of-bounds over the touchline. A member of the opposing team that last touched the ball must throw it onto the field from over her head, using both hands and keeping a part of each foot on the ground either behind or on the touchline. The ball is thrown in from the point where it went out-of-bounds. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

There are occasions when a player should literally trap the ball; for example, if an "air ball" is coming at his feet, he can use the bottom of his foot to trap the ball against the ground. However, when someone uses the term "trap" or "trapping", they usually mean "receive" or "receiving".

A human barrier of at least three players used to aid the goalkeeper in defending against free kicks, when they are specifically so awarded. Players may line up 10 or more yards from the ball to form a barrier between the kicker and the goal.

10. Write a one page report on a famous soccer player. Discuss why they are or are not a good Christian role model.[edit]

11. Discuss with your Pathfinder leader, pastor or teacher the problems facing a Seventh-day Adventist youth considering sports in Jr. High, High School or college. What alternatives are there that allow for continued activity in sports.[edit]

The most obvious problem faced by a Seventh-day Adventist who wishes to participate in organized sports is the tendency for games to be scheduled during Sabbath hours. Competitive sports and Sabbath observance are not compatible with one another. An alternative would be to participate with a group of like-minded individuals. Many towns offer city leagues, and it may be possible to form a team with other members of your church, with the understanding that you will not compete on the Sabbath.

The Adventist athlete may also enjoy individual sports instead, or engage in informal pick-up games.